Nvidia Chief: UK Lacks Digital Infrastructure — Starmer Steps In with £1 B for AI

🗣️ Jensen Huang (Nvidia CEO) opened London Tech Week alongside UK PM Sir Keir Starmer, declaring the UK has a “Goldilocks” AI ecosystem—rich in talent and private investment, yet severely lacking computer infrastructure:

“This is the largest AI ecosystem in the world without its own infrastructure”

💷 Starmer’s announcement:

• A £1 billion investment to scale the UK’s computing power 20x, transforming the country into an AI producer, not just a consumer, by empowering public services and reducing reliance on big tech.
• Aligned launches by Nscale (10,000 Nvidia GPUs) and Nebius (4,000 GPUs), plus the new AI Technology Centre in Bristol and the UK Sovereign AI Industry Forum to foster homegrown innovation.

📊 The challenge ahead:

• The UK trails the US ($109 billion) and China ($9.3 billion) in private AI funding—just $4.5 billion raised here.
• While infrastructure remains a bottleneck, today’s funding boosts ecosystem momentum and national ambition.

👁️ The bigger picture:

• Nvidia and government partnerships—like the digital sandbox with the FCA and AI training programs—are laying groundwork for accelerating safe, sovereign AI development.
• Starmer emphasized AI’s societal payoff—boosting public services, creating jobs, and building a UK-wide digital future.